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Today in West Hawaii history | May 13

Today in West Hawaii history | May 13

May 13, 2004: A dozen employees of Life Care Center of Kona allege that nurse-staffing shortages are leading to lapses in resident care at the nursing home, including an increased number of accidents, development of bedsores and failure to maintain resident hygiene.

Editor’s note: This list of notable stories featured in West Hawaii Today throughout the years is compiled from West Hawaii Today archives. It includes historical notes from 10, 20 and 30 years ago. "Today in West Hawaii history" is a daily feature of West Hawaii Today and is available only online at westhawaiitoday.com.

West Hawaii Today

May 13, 1984: Finance Director Stanley Nakamae says Hawaii County’s real property tax base rose only 1.5 percent for fiscal year 1984-85, the smallest increase since 1976-77 when it was 1.4 percent. He noted the small increase could be due to a stable or “flat” economy.

May 13, 1994: Hawaii County housing administrators have received approval to purchase a 4.75-acre parcel from Nansay Hawaii Inc., which will then develop its proposed 33-unit Ouli Ekahi affordable housing project at the South Kohala site. The Hawaii County Council voted 6-3 to authorize $550,000 for the purchase and administrative costs. The county will buy the land and then lease it back to Nansay for $1 per year. Nansay has agreed to build the three-bedroom homes, which will be rented for $548 per month, while retaining an option to buy back the land in 15 years for $546,000.

The Hawaii County Police Department is the recipient of a $375,000 federal grant to hire five additional officers as part of a nationwide program to provide 2,000 more police officers, the U.S. Justice Department announces. The grant will partially fund the officers’ salaries for three years, with the $200,000 balance to come from the drug-forfeiture account, says police chief Victor Vierra.

The first nurses graduate from Hawaii Community College in West Hawaii. A total of 15 students — 14 women and one man — receive an associate degree in nursing.

May 13, 2004: A dozen employees of Life Care Center of Kona allege that nurse-staffing shortages are leading to lapses in resident care at the nursing home, including an increased number of accidents, development of bedsores and failure to maintain resident hygiene. Nursing staff and several family members of residents discussed their allegations with West Hawaii Today on condition of anonymity because of fear of retribution. The center’s executive director Lyn Heiman says the facility is adequately staffed and denied that resident care is substandard.

Barring unforeseen difficulties, a public road will link Kona Palisades and Coastview subdivisions by the end of the year. The long-awaited connection of Holoholo and Nana streets is being constructed as part of a 34-lot subdivision now being built by RS-10 Kalaoa LLC in the undeveloped strip between the two existing subdivisions. Construction began May 3.